LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

Revision 1

March 22, 2009

TO:	Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1165 by Carona (Relating to the use of certain vehicles for law enforcement purposes.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would add certain vehicles to the definition of an authorized emergency vehicle under Section 541.201, Transportation Code. The bill specifies that if a vehicle is used for law enforcement purposes it must bear the insignia of a law enforcement agency, regardless of whether the vehicle displays an emergency light. Current statute only requires the vehicle to "be appropriately marked as an official police vehicle."

According to the Department of Public Safety, the bill would not have a significant fiscal impact on the agency.

Local Government Impact

If a law enforcement agency currently uses vehicles that are marked, but that do not bear the agency's insignia, and if the agency wanted to continue use of that vehicle for law enforcement activities, the agency would incur the cost of obtaining an insignia for the vehicle.

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

405 Department of Public Safety

LBB Staff:

JOB, KJG, DB